Left North Rim, Grand Canyon, yesterday afternoon around three. Did 30 odd miles before (Joe and Michael be proud) ditch/wild camping. Everyone said it was a totally safe area to do it in, and the campground was closed anyway. HOWEVER - guess what happens? My tent breaks!!!!! BREAKS!!!! So, not only did I ditch camp I did it without the benefit of a functioning tent. (I crawled into the collasped netting with my thermal rest and sleeping bag. But I lasted the nighht even if I only slept three and a half hours. EVEN though I knew it was totally safe, I just have the worse time keeping my imagination under control. When we were kids, our dad used to encourage us to go to sleep by telling us that if we were awake at midnight the witches would get us (not exactly a relaxing bedtime thought). To this day I have problems with midnight.

However I did it. Packed up at first light, on the road by 5:30. Get to Kanab around 8:30 (after a 30 mile descent) where I buy superglue and hope that I've fixed my tent. Then off again. Now I'm at Mt. Carmel Junction, 15 miles from the East Gate of Zion Park, 25 miles from the visitor centre. Kanab to Mt. Carmel juction was 16 miles, 1000 feet of climbing in 95 degree weather, but I handled it ok. (I can't believe I once thought 500 feet was a big climb. Oh Washington!)

I'm probably going to hang out here until it cools a bit, then do the 25 miles to Zion. Have to figure out how to get to Bryce too. They aren't in the same direction apparently. Bryce is out of the way for me.

Bye!!